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Phở trộn is pho without the broth poured in. The noodles are tossed with chicken, bean sprouts, herbs, roasted peanuts and a spoonful of sauce, and the hot broth comes separately in its own bowl.
What goes into a bowl of phở gà trộn
A common way is to blanch the rice noodles and bean sprouts quickly, drain them and put them in the bowl. The chicken is boiled and shredded or sliced. The sweet and sour sauce is made from seasoned broth with rock sugar, soy sauce, salt and vinegar. The herbs are coriander and scallion, with roasted peanuts, fried shallots, chili sauce and pepper on top.
Many people ask me when phở trộn first appeared. I am a Hanoian who grew up in the Old Quarter, taken out for street food by my great-grandparents and grandmother from the earliest days, and still I cannot answer this one. What I do know is that every home and every restaurant has its own recipe, so this article tells how it is made and eaten.
What is good about phở trộn is that the broth is still there, clear and hot, served in its own bowl so you can sip it between bites and soften the palate.
How it differs from pho with broth
Pho with broth has the broth poured straight into the bowl, and the flavor lives in the broth. In phở trộn the flavor lives in the sauce, the herbs and the peanuts, while the broth is served on the side to sip.
How to eat phở trộn
- Toss the noodles well with the chicken, bean sprouts, herbs and peanuts so the sauce coats everything.
- Taste a spoonful of the separate broth first, then sip it between bites.
- Add lime and chili to taste, a little at a time.
Phở gà trộn at Bếp Kinh Kỳ
At Bếp Kinh Kỳ I toss Phở Gà Trộn with its own sauce, fresh herbs and roasted peanuts; the broth comes in a separate bowl, with fried dough sticks, lime and chili. There are four cuts, as with phở gà with broth: Breast, Wing/Back, Thigh and Special. See the menu for the price of each.
Quick answers
- Does phở trộn come with broth?
- Yes. Hot broth is served in a separate bowl to sip alongside.
- When did phở trộn appear?
- I do not know for sure. Since childhood I was simply taken out to eat by my great-grandparents and grandmother, and what I know is that it is a way of eating pho without the broth poured in, with the broth served on the side.
